Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

KORA

West African musical instrument played by a hereditary caste of male professional musicians, a double harp made from a large calabash covered in cowhide, with 21 strings originally made of leather but now more usually of nylon. It is played by Mandinka musicians, who share a common heritage with other groups of the ancient Malian empire, and is today mostly found in Senegal and Gambia. The musician is known as a jali (plural jaliya), plays for entertainment; he praises notable individuals, while the repertoire also incl. historical epics and family lineages. Singing and playing are strictly organized with a fixed refrain and a fixed melody, but room is still found for improvisation. In earlier times the players survived by patronage, but today, like many musicians, most have alternative ways of making a living. Best-known contemporary Kora players are perhaps the Konte family; Alhaji Bai Konte (b '20s, Jambur), one of Gambia's leading players, was taught by his father, developed his own style; he was heard on Alhaji Bai Konte: Kora Melodies From The Republic Of The Gambia '74 on Rounder. He trained his son Dembo Konte (b '48), who performed more modern material and played with the Gambia National Troupe. Father and son formed a trio late '70s with Malamini Jaborteh (b '42), who was brought up in Konte household and has toured North Africa, France, USSR, UK as a soloist; Jobarteh and Dembo played together on Jaliya '85 on Stern's. Other notable kora records incl. Sénégal: La Musique des Griots, Babou Diebate's Folklore du Sénégal (Casamance) Vol. 1, Amadu Bansang Jaborteh's Master Of The Kora.

Kora masters have attracted wider audiences by amplifying the sound, supporting it with non-trad. instruments, etc; these incl. Lamine Konte, Nory Konte and Foday Musa Suso. Dembo Konte and Kasau Kouyate made Simbomba '87, Jali Roll '90 on Rogue (but a rock beat on some tracks does nothing for this music); Les Griots were Sourakata Koite and Diombo Kouyate on Koch International. Tunde Jegede, born in London, combined the sound of the kora with classical cello and composition; see his entry, and entry for Suso.